Steve Bruce bemoans Hull City's poor first-half display

Hull City manager Steve Bruce has described his side's performance in the first half of their 2-1 defeat away at Aston Villa this afternoon as the "worst" since he took charge of the club in 2012.

The Villans scored twice in the opening 36 minutes through Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann, while they also struck the woodwork twice as they dominated a weary Tigers outfit.

Nikica Jelavic pulled one back for the visitors after the restart, but it failed to spark a comeback.

"The performance in the first half was the worst I can remember in the time I've been at the club. For the travelling supporters who witnessed it, you have to apologise," Bruce told BBC Sport.

"I can't understand why we put in a performance like that in the first half. There was no energy, no spirit. We never laid a glove on them. In the second half, we changed it round, and we were excellent, but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb after the first half."

After the international break, Bruce's men will play host to West Ham United.